Bradford University - Student View

Small, friendly campus university, 10 minutes' walk from the city centre. School of health studies is walking distance away from main campus, management 2 miles away (on main bus routes).

A technological university and its academic strengths are eg: pharmacy, optometry and archaeology, as well as rare humanities courses such as peace studies and interdisciplinary human studies. Popular for electronic communication courses such as telecommunications, and electronic imaging and media communication.

Workloads can vary hugely depending on course and time of year. Many courses include a placement (industrial or educational); university's ethos is applied rather than theoretical knowledge. Easy to change course in first term and dropout rate is low.

Very good sports facilities and loads of different sports to try; sports centre on campus has a swimming pool, sports hall, gym, weights room, etc; astroturt pitches within walking distance and playing fields easily accessible by bus.

University halls of residence are good standard. Plenty of private accommodation in Bradford, mostly in large Victorian terraced houses within a mile of campus; standards vary but Unipol (student housing standards agency) aims to iron out poor housing.

Active students' union, with campaigns running most of the time. SU runs four bars and three nightclubs, two shops and an advice centre. 35 sports clubs, ranging from traditional rugby and football to more adventurous frisbee and sub-aqua; 40 societies eg cocktails, twirling and CND.

Hardship funds and budgeting advice also available from SU and university (but Bradford inexpensive, so money stretches well!). Students from over 90 nationalities and no two people come there for the same reason; cosmopolitan atmosphere and always new people to meet.

Teaching methods range from traditional stuffy academia to off-the-wall experimentation but good balance and university committed to whole-student experience.

Nightlife on offer in the city is small but varied; usually something for everyone. Union events predominately cheese-based, but also regular hip hop and drum'n'bass nights. Rio's is one of the best rock/alternative clubs in the north; not many live bands in Bradford but lots of student bands do gigs in and around the SU. Close enough to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield that it's never a long journey to a decent gig. Mainstream and independent cinemas in town; SU cinema on campus. National Museum of Film Photography & Television nearby, and only 10 minutes on the train to the Yorkshire Dales!